Identity Theft

Representing the injured, the wronged and their families

Stolen Hard Drive Contained Information on 535,000 Veterans

On January 22, 2007, a computer hard drive containing sensitive personal information on 535,000 people was reported missing or stolen from the Birmingham Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center. The drive also contained data on 1.3 million physicians, both living and deceased.

The information on the hard drive was being used as part of a nationwide study and therefore the stolen information is not solely confined to residents of Alabama.

The hard drive contained the Social Security numbers of 535,000 people. Ten thousand people’s names were matched with their Social Security numbers, in addition to Medicare billing record information and billing codes for 1.3 million doctors. The potential for identity theft and abuse of the stolen information is staggering and has caused a political uproar over the lack of encryption measures on the hard drive.

Simply put, the data should have been encrypted, so in the event the drive was stolen or misplaced, no one would be able to access the information without the proper password and security credentials. The stolen data that may have left tens of thousands open to identify theft should have been kept under electronic lock and key.

Rep. Spencer Bachus said, “It is a continuing source of astonishment and concern that despite numerous VA data breaches, VA records were being stored without encryption. Encryption of records is an established and routine practice. To not have taken that step is bewildering.”

Veterans who may be at risk of having their identities stolen are outraged, worried, and confused. The Veterans Association offered one year of free credit report monitoring for individuals whose personal information may be compromised. This offer infuriated many veterans, who felt the notion was absurd considering that identity theft can result in bankruptcy, increased credit card fees, higher interest rates, and battling collection agencies. These difficulties can persist up to 10 years after the person’s identity is first compromised.

US Navy veteran Michael Baggett said of the missing hard drive and subsequent credit monitoring offer, “The veterans of this country, including myself, were and always will be willing to forfeit our own lives to protect the well-being of our nation….providing one year of credit is as minute as adding one grain of sand to an eroding beach. This is what our country has to offer in exchange for our offering of our lives?”

If you or someone you care about has been affected by the events at the Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center, contact our firm immediately for a free and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys at Cory Watson want to protect your rights and financial well-being if you’ve been the victim of identity theft. Call us today.

If you would like more information please contact attorney Jason Shamblin or paralegal Tracie Talmadge today.

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